Police arrest man accused of kicking police horse

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Police in Portland, Oregon, say they have arrested a 29-year-old man accused of running up to a police horse, uttering a “karate-like battle cry” and delivering what a spokesman calls “a jumping, double kick” to the horse’s right thigh.

Police say the horse named Olin was unfazed and unhurt Wednesday. A police spokesman notes Olin outweighed his attacker by about 1,000 pounds.

Olin and his human partner took Joseph Cruz into custody for investigation of interfering with a law enforcement animal. The man was also wanted on an unrelated arrest warrant.

The incident happened as mounted officers patrolled Portland’s Old Town, near a bus depot. They had stopped to speak to a group of people.